Remembering Bing Austria: 5 songs to remember the prolific Filipino musician

Bing Austria died after battling sepsis for more than a week.

Shortly after his death was announced on Facebook Monday, tributes for the prolific musician and singer/songwriter poured in.

Below, we list five of his songs that best showcase his talent — and his joy — that made him such a commanding presence on stage, and a beloved personality in the local music scene.

1. Bomba!

With Bing releasing "Bomba!" on his social media a mere five days before his family alerted his fans and followers of his hospitalization, it's safe to say the track is Bing's swan song.

It's not a bad curtain call, too. According to Bing, he wrote the three-minuter song while sitting in traffic, on his home from Bicol to Manila. "There were so many things popping into my head at that moment, I felt like a bomb about to explode," he wrote.

"Bomba!" showcases Bing's innate creativity and genius. He took on an unusual spoken word style of vocals, but employed an upbeat horn section that has come to define his music, keeping the song balanced, fun, and very Bing.

2. Ruined Heart

"Ruined Heart," from the OST of the 2015 Khavn dela Cruz film of the same name, is such a joyful little song by Bing and his band Flippin Soul Stompers, you won't be able to resist dancing to it.

Essentially a love song that acknowledges the brokenness of both parties, "Ruined Heart" has Bing making poetry off the word "ruined," singing the lyrics at such a distinct rhythm, so that the word floats over and above the instrumentals, above the beats, above everything else. Joyful!

3. Do You Remember When We Were Kids

The opening song to "Soul Up," the first and only album of Bing's band, Juan Pablo Dream" under Terno Records, "Do You Remember When We Were Kids" set the stage and introduced a different kind of band to the local music scene.

"Do you Remember When we Were Kids" begins with fast, upbeat, if chaotic instrumentation only for things to dial down a notch to make way for Bing's vocals.

With the song's guitar chops, drops, and a trilling horn section, Juan Pablo Dream definitely made an impression.

4. Happy People

"Happy People" of Bing's Flippin Soul Stomper features an irresistible mix of funk, R&B, and soul that will get you on your feet, and dancing like, well, a happy person.

Performed live, Bing's showmanship is hard to deny. In his stylish ensemble, he commands the stage with his suave moves and his joie de vivre.

5. Nice Place

Arguably the most recognizable Bing Austria hit, 'Nice Place,' from Juan Pablo Dream's "Soul Up" is reminiscent of Paul Weller: groovy and upbeat, but controlled and restrained where it matters.

Bing sings about "Going to a nice place/meeting my friends there," that "Nice Place" has become a rallying phrase for gigs and shows of a time.

In the announcement of his death, his family wrote "Abraham 'Bing' Austria is now painless and sent off by his family and loved ones to a nice place."

And for some who gave us such a fun time and lots of good music, that's all we could really hope and pray for. — LA, GMA News